Warmer weather is here, which means parties, barbecues and social distance bonfires with friends. Most of the time these gatherings are synonymous with sipping cocktails, but a developing trend suggests you might be pouring zero-proof drinks this season.
The popularity of the “sober curious” movement is encouraging more people to occasionally skip traditional cocktails, wine and beer in favor of non-alcoholic beverages. This effort to lead a healthier lifestyle has led to the rise of non-alcoholic bars and events popping up across the country, which allow people to socialize without the possibility of suffering a morning-after hangover.
The movement is also coming to the home front with emerging brands like Brooklyn Crafted hitting the shelves. Brooklyn Crafted offers a line of low-sugar, non-alcoholic beverages for at-home consumption. Founded in 2017, the company seemed to predict the trend. The global non-alcoholic beverage market is expected to reach a record value of $1.6 billion by 2024, according to a recent report from Zion Market Research. Whole Foods even declared that zero-proof drinks are one of the top-10 food trends for 2020.
“We noticed a largely untapped and growing category, specifically within the sugar-free space, which presented Brooklyn Crafted with the opportunity to deliver a line of delicious ginger beers and ale,” Terry Tang, CEO of Brooklyn Crafted, said. “Not only are Brooklyn Crafted’s beverages zero-proof, but they are also zero-preservative, zero-artificial additives and zero-nonsense. Each time you crack open a bottle of Brooklyn Crafted, you’re guaranteed to taste the freshest ingredients sourced from their top growing regions in the world.”
Brooklyn Crafted offers three product lines: the original ginger beer and ale line, a calamansi-ade line and a cinnamon line. The ginger beers, available in six flavors, such as mango and extra spicy, are made with pure cane sugar and contain unfiltered ginger pieces.
The Calamansi line has five flavors, including ginger and pomegranate. Calamansi, a kumquat-mandarin hybrid that originally hails from Southeast Asia, has a distinct citrus flavor that’s a balance of sweet and tart. The fruit is believed to help boost the immune system. The two-product cinnamon line is made with Vietnamese cinnamon. Though the beverages can be sipped alone, they also make great mocktail mixers for your next gathering.
“These days, even the trendiest of bars are providing zero-proof mocktail options for their guests,” Tang said. “Mocktails are the perfect drink for someone who’s looking to enjoy the same social benefits of being at a bar with peers without any of the alcohol.”
Blackberry Ginger Smash
Ingredients:
- ½ cup blackberries
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- ½ lemon, cut into wedges
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 6 oz. Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mini in extra spicy
- 6 oz. club soda
- Ice
Directions:
Place blackberries, sugar, lemon wedges and thyme in the bottom of a glass pitcher and muddle. Add Brooklyn Crafted and club soda and stir once. Pour to serve.
